Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Subhas Chandra Bose considered invading India with the help of Nazi troops.

In 1941,having escaped imprisonment at home,Subhas Chandra Bose reached Afghanistan by assuming the guise of a Pashtun insurance agent ("Ziaudddin"). He then traveled to Moscow on the passport of an Italian nobleman "Count Orlando Mazzotta". From Moscow, he reached Rome, and from there he traveled to Germany, where he instituted the Special Bureau for India under Adam von Trott zu Solz, broadcasting on the German-sponsored Azad Hind Radio. He founded the Free India Centre in Berlin, and created the Indian Legion (consisting of some 4500 soldiers) out of Indian prisoners of war who had previously fought for the British in North Africa prior to their capture by Axis forces. The Indian Legion was attached to the Wehrmacht, and later transferred to the Waffen SS, its members swore their allegiance to both Hitler and Bose to secure India's independence.

He was also, however, prepared to envisage an invasion of India via the U.S.S.R. by Nazi troops, spearheaded by the Azad Hind Legion; many have questioned his judgment here, as it seems unlikely that the Germans could have been easily persuaded to leave after such an invasion, which might also have resulted in an Axis victory in the War.The lack of interest shown by Hitler in the cause of Indian independence eventually caused Bose to become disillusioned with Hitler and he decided to leave Nazi Germany in 1943.

He later established the Indian National Army (INA) or Azad Hind Fauj with Japanese aid.

1 comment:

‼ Jay ‼ said...

Indian National Army (INA) was not formed or established by Netaji. Rash Behari Bose was the man behind the formation of INA.